It’s hard to imagine anything unpleasant occurring in Fairhill: “Nothing ever happens in sleepy Fairhill, Vermont. Until it does.” And when it does, it upends everyone’s idealized version of their perfect little town. When a local farmer discovers the body of high school senior Diana Brewer in a remote field, everyone in Fairhill is set on edge. Who could have done this? Could it be one of their own?

When Detectives Stone and Godfrey launch their investigation, what they lack in evidence, they make up for in a bevy of suspects.

"Known for being the 'Queen of Domestic Suspense' and one of the most effective authors of the 'one-weekend read,' Shari Lapena is in fine form in this compelling tale of murder and intrigue, which fans of her earlier books will devour."

The police first turn their gaze on Diana’s possessive boyfriend, Cameron, who was the last person to see her alive. Despite his account of a healthy, happy relationship, it soon comes to light that Diana was feeling constrained by his borderline obsessive love, which was evident even to his mother, Shelby: “[I]f she’s honest with herself, his behavior with Diana sometimes made her feel a little uncomfortable. The love that bordered on the urge to control. And yet she pretended not to see it and said nothing…. They were obviously happy together. But couples can look perfectly happy, can fool everyone --- until the worst happens.”

Diana reportedly had confessed to her best friend, Riley, her intention to break up with Cameron the very night she died. What will become of her mother, Brenda? A hardworking single mother, Diana always had been the light of Brenda’s life. How will she ever recover from this violent act? The police have a sneaking feeling that Cameron is lying about his whereabouts the night Diana was killed. Even his own parents start to question him.

However, just as the lead detectives begin rooting out Cameron’s lies, another suspect enters the chat. A few coworkers and friends of Diana’s mention a creepy customer who would unsettle her at her part-time job. After reviewing surveillance footage, a blurry image is released to the public, and the man is identified as Joe Prior: “They have a picture of him from Home Depot. They know he was flirting with that girl, obviously. No point in denying it.”

As the police expand their circle of suspects, yet another one surfaces. Diana requested a meeting with her principal, Graham Kelly, and gym teacher/track coach, Brad Turner, where she accused the latter of “inappropriate behavior.” Kelly didn’t think she was being truthful, so he never filed a proper complaint. The only other person who knows about the charge is Paula Acosta, an English teacher who urges Kelly to relay this information to the police. But Kelly is surprisingly reluctant to go to the authorities. If it turns out that Turner is indeed Diana’s killer, his inaction could result in the loss of his job, his career and, quite possibly, his marriage. This fear itself could be motive enough.

One of the many perspectives of WHAT HAVE YOU DONE? is that of Diana herself, who narrates from beyond the grave. It seems she has a murky recollection of her own murder at best, and we see her trying to put the pieces together along with the cops, her friends and family, and the reader. That ratchets up the tension in this propulsive thriller.

Known for being the “Queen of Domestic Suspense” and one of the most effective authors of the “one-weekend read,” Shari Lapena is in fine form in this compelling tale of murder and intrigue, which fans of her earlier books will devour. It also will appeal to readers of thrillers like PRESUMED INNOCENT and DEFENDING JACOB. Lapena really knows how to unearth the grimy underbelly of small-town America with potent results.